Federal by-elections: Voter Contact Registry in effect

News Release

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that the Voter Contact Registry is now accepting registrations for the federal by-elections in the ridings of Calgary-Midnapore (Alberta), Calgary-Heritage (Alberta), Markham-Thornhill (Ontario) and Saint-Laurent (Quebec). The registry will be open until the by-election on April 3, 2017.

As part of the legal requirements for the Voter Contact Registry, anyone (including candidates and political parties, corporations, trade associations and other persons or groups) using the services of a calling service provider to call voters during the election will have to register with the CRTC within 48 hours of making the first call. The calling service provider is also obliged to register with the CRTC during federal and by election campaigns.

In addition, anyone using their own internal services to make calls to voters using an automatic dialing and announcing device (often referred to as robocalls or ADADs) will have to register with the CRTC within 48 hours of making the first call.

Quotes

“The Voter Contact Registry was created to protect Canadians from rogue or misleading telephone calls during federal and by-election campaigns. We remind entities and political parties who make calls during this federal by-election that they must continue to abide by the Voter Contact Registry requirements.”

Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the CRTC

Quick Facts

The CRTC is responsible for establishing and maintaining a Voter Contact Registry during federal elections and by-elections.

The Voter Contact Registry, established in 2015, helps to protect Canadians from rogue and misleading calls during federal elections and by-elections.

Candidates, nomination contestants, registered political parties, registered electoral district associations and individuals who use their own internal services to make live calls to voters do not have to register with the CRTC.

The CRTC can impose monetary penalties for each violation of up to $1,500 for individuals and up to $15,000 for corporations.

Registration notices filed with the CRTC will be published on the CRTC website as soon as feasible 30 days after polling day.

Canadians who think the Voter Contact Registry requirements are not being followed can submit a complaint to the CRTC.